Tracing a Private in the RAF

[peregrinvs]

Hi,

I'm trying to find some information on the individual awarded a BWM that was given to me by an elderly neighbour many years ago. I've tried searching the National Archives and Ancestry websites, but without success. As far as I can tell, it is engraved:

410021

PTE 2

G S Smith

RAF

Grateful for any help.

Mark

[peregrinvs]

OK. Having done some more digging, it appears I didn't find this chap on the National Archives website as they don't keep the records for post-April 1918 RAF personnel. I believe this information has to be obtained from the RAF - could someone let me know what the process is or point me in the direction of a suitable link?

Thanks,

Mark

[per ardua per mare per terram]

they don't keep the records for post-April 1918 RAF personnel.

This is incorrect, they have hundreds of thousands of records for post-April 1918 RAF personnel! They do not have any records for service numbers above 329000. Any other records are only available to the direct next of kin.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Here's a link to the UK National Archives website that gives the details:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militar...force/step6.htm

[peregrinvs]

Hi,

Apologies for necroposting, but I’ve just found out that ‘findmypast’ have digitised the AIR 79 records and a free search on PTE G S Smith's service number reveals he was born in 1878 and attested in 1914.

However, the ‘First name(s)’ field just gives the initials ‘G S’ rather than his actual forenames and a browse of other records suggests this is rather unusual. The birth county and occupation fields are also blank.

Does anyone have any ideas why this information – particularly the forenames – is missing? I’m a little worried that paying to see the full record wouldn’t reveal much else. A search on another genealogy website gives 11 males with those initials and surname born in 1878 in England and Wales. The medal turned up in Buckhurst Hill in Essex circa the mid-1980's.

Grateful for any illumination.

Thanks,

Mark

[hmsk212]

He served as a batman and in 1918 he was living in East Ham. Prior to serving with the RAF he served with 6th Essex Regiment

[peregrinvs]

Many thanks for that. Is the information from the AIR 79 file? East Ham would partially match with a George Sidney Smith born in West Ham, Sept-Dec 1878.

Cheers,

Mark

[HarryBrook]

The record states that he married in 1899 in East Ham. His wife's name, in another section, was given as Mrs. M. E. Smith, 35, Eastbourne Road, East Ham, E.C.

Looking at the marriage index for 1899 for a George Sidney Smith marrying someone with the initials M. E. found a George Sullinge Smith marrying a Mary Elizabeth Darnell, but West Ham District, quarter 2 of 1899.

George Sullinge Smith was born 1877 Q3 Romford District.

No other records found in this name.

[peregrinvs]

Many thanks.

Does the record give any info on his service with the 1/6 Essex Regiment - like a service number? Having looked up their history, (Gallipoli, etc.) I'm intrigued to know more of his pre-RAF service.

A big thank you to everyone who's helped with this. It is - for me - pretty much literally a 30 year old mystery waiting to be solved.

Cheers,

Mark

[hmsk212]

Service number was 275356.

[peregrinvs]

Thanks. I shall get on the case.

I had vaguely assumed for many years that he'd been conscripted close to the end of the war and probably hadn't done that much prior to the end of hostilities. It never occurred to me that he'd been in the army for some time before that.

Cheers,

Mark

[headgardener]

His RAF service record should show the date on which he joined the army, as well as the date on which he transferred to the RAF. I *think* the RAF service numbers > 400,000 were all direct transfers from the army in the mid/latter part of 1918.

You might also check to see whether he has any army service papers. They do occasionally exist for men who were subsequently transferred to the RAF.

I had vaguely assumed for many years that he'd been conscripted close to the end of the war and probably hadn't done that much prior to the end of hostilities. It never occurred to me that he'd been in the army for some time before that.

[hmsk212]

He joined the Army on 12th September 1914 and is shown as having been wounded in action on 26th March 1917. He served in Egypt.

Steve

[peregrinvs]

Thanks for the information. I should point out that I have now acquired a copy of his AIR 79 record.

A colleague with an Ancestry account did some searches for me using his previous army number and other details, but drew a blank. Does this mean his army records were superseded when he transferred to the RAF and the AIR 79 details are all that survives, or are there any other avenues to explore?

Amongst other things, I’m mildly curious as to why he enlisted in Sept 1914, but didn’t qualify for the 1914-1915 Star? I note he was relatively old (36) when he enlisted.

Thanks,

Mark

[headgardener]

A colleague with an Ancestry account did some searches for me using his previous army number and other details, but drew a blank. Does this mean his army records were superseded when he transferred to the RAF and the AIR 79 details are all that survives, or are there any other avenues to explore?

Amongst other things, I’m mildly curious as to why he enlisted in Sept 1914, but didn’t qualify for the 1914-1915 Star? I note he was relatively old (36) when he enlisted.

He would only qualify for a 1914 or 1914-15 star if he in a theatre of war during the relevant qualifying period. The fact that he enlisted within that period wouldn't in itself cause him to qualify. The fact that he was older than many recruits might suggest that when he was kept back in the 6th Essex's home-service battalion in when the 1st line battalion was sent overseas - obviously, it would have been the fittest (perhaps youngest) men who were initially selected for overseas service.

He joined the Army on 12th September 1914 and is shown as having been wounded in action on 26th March 1917. He served in Egypt.

As Steve points out, he did go on to serve overseas (presumably with the 1/6 Essex) and served in Egypt and Palestine, so this must have been sometime after 1 Jan 1916.

Steve mentions that his service number was 275356. The 6/Essex was a Territorial battalion, and your relative's service number dates from 1917 - we can tell this because war-time Territorial recruits initially had 4-figure service numbers, but were renumbered at the start of 1917 and given 6-figure numbers. If his service started in 1914, then his service papers could still exist under his original 4-figure number (whatever that was....!). So, if you have the patience, you might want to check through all the service papers for 'G' and 'G.S.' Smith who served in the Essex regiment and who had a 4-figure territorial service number, just in case. It may have been destroyed, though!

[peregrinvs]

On 29/11/2014 at 19:21, HarryBrook said:

The record states that he married in 1899 in East Ham. His wife's name, in another section, was given as Mrs. M. E. Smith, 35, Eastbourne Road, East Ham, E.C.

Looking at the marriage index for 1899 for a George Sidney Smith marrying someone with the initials M. E. found a George Sullinge Smith marrying a Mary Elizabeth Darnell, but West Ham District, quarter 2 of 1899.

George Sullinge Smith was born 1877 Q3 Romford District.

No other records found in this name.

Resurrecting this old thread, I have long been idly curious as to how my next door neighbour came by the medal as her married surname wasn’t Smith. I had a play with the Free BMD database recently and think I may have found a lead. 

When I knew my neighbour she was called Doris Bradley. I am fairly certain she is Doris Maud Bradley born 09 April 1908 who died in the Epping Forest District in 1993.

She had a husband called Joseph Bradley who was a bit older than her and died in the mid-1970s. After a search of the marriage records, I think I have a match of Joseph M Bradley marrying Doris Maud Darnell - registered in the Epping District in June 1941.

At this point my ears pricked up due to the info above regarding a George Sullinge Smith marrying a Mary Elizabeth Darnell in the West Ham district in 1899. A birth record search brings up a Doris Maud Darnell whose birth was registered in the West Ham district in June 1908.

So I was wondering if someone with more genealogical resources and search skills than I would be kind enough to check out this possible link to the medal: is Doris Maud Darnell a relative of Mary Elizabeth Darnell? Did, for example, my neighbour inherit the medal via an aunt?

Many thanks in advance for any help.